Description
A cozy and nourishing cabbage soup packed with fresh vegetables and smoky turkey bacon, offering a healthy, flavorful, and light meal perfect for quick dinners or meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1 medium green cabbage, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 2 large carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
Protein and Flavor
- 6 slices smoked turkey bacon
Liquids and Seasonings
- 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes (natural)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare your vegetables: Wash and chop the cabbage into bite-sized pieces. Dice the carrots, celery, and onion finely to ensure even cooking and full flavor release. Mince the garlic cloves to bring out their aromatic essence.
- Cook the smoked turkey bacon: In a large pot, lightly sauté the smoked turkey bacon until crispy, rendering out the smoky fat that will flavor the soup. Remove the bacon and set aside, leaving the drippings in the pot to sauté the vegetables.
- Sauté the aromatics: Add diced onion, celery, and carrots to the pot with the bacon drippings. Cook gently until soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. Add the minced garlic during the last minute of cooking for a gentle roast.
- Add liquids and seasoning: Pour in the vegetable broth, crushed tomatoes, apple cider vinegar, and vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural). Stir in the bay leaves and season with freshly ground black pepper. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Simmer with the cabbage: Add the chopped cabbage to the pot, reduce heat to low, and simmer uncovered for about 20 minutes, or until the cabbage is tender but still has a bit of bite.
- Finish and serve: Return the smoked turkey bacon to the pot to warm through. Remove bay leaves and adjust seasoning if needed. Garnish with fresh parsley just before serving for a bright, fresh touch.
Notes
- Use fresh cabbage with firm heads and bright green leaves for best taste and texture.
- Cook the vegetables slowly to develop a rich, comforting flavor base.
- Simmer gently on low heat to soften vegetables without turning mushy.
- Adjust seasoning by tasting and tweaking salt, pepper, and vinegar to your preference.
- Save some crispy turkey bacon bits to sprinkle on top for added crunch and texture contrast.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 1.2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: cabbage soup, turkey bacon soup, healthy soup, quick soup, vegetable soup, comforting soup, light soup, wholesome meal
